Iron has long been implicated in many neurological and other organ diseases. It is known that over and above the normal increases in iron with age, in certain diseases there is an excessive iron accumulation in the brain and liver. MRI is a noninvasive means by which to image the various structures in the brain in three dimensions and quantify iron over the volume of the object of interest. The quantification of iron can provide information about the severity of iron-related diseases as well as quantify changes in iron for patient follow-up and treatment monitoring. This article provides an overview of current MRI-based methods for iron quantification, specifically for the brain and liver, including: signal intensity ratio, R2 , R2*, R2', phase, susceptibility weighted imaging and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). Although there are numerous approaches to measuring iron, R2 and R2* are currently preferred methods in imaging the liver and QSM has become the preferred approach for imaging iron in the brain.
Level of evidence: 5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 5 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2018;48:301-317.
Keywords: Parkinson's disease; iron quantification; liver iron overload; multiple sclerosis; quantitative susceptibility mapping; susceptibility weighted imaging.
© 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.